COSATU members brave cold, wet Cape Town weather for May Day celebrations

CAPE TOWN - Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) members and supporters have braved the cold and rainy weather and gathered at Cape Town’s Athlone Stadium for May Day celebrations.

The celebrations are taking place across all nine provinces, with the main event happening in Cape Town.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver one of the keynote speeches, along with other alliance leaders.

While more buses continue to drop off supporters, only a small section of the 34,000-seater stadium has been filled by supporters and COSATU members.

Only the main pavilion of the stadium is currently full, with supporters singing and chanting in between the entertainment items on the main stage.

The programme was expected to start at 10 am on Wednesday with keynote addresses by Ramaphosa and COSATU president, Zingiswa Losi.

Provincial leaders from the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) are also expected to address those in attendance once proceedings begin.

This year’s Workers' Day celebrations come amid high fuel prices and the cost of living, which have hit the pockets of the working class the hardest, according to COSATU.